South Kitsap hires Cain to coach boys soccer

Julie Cain isn't trying to be a trendsetter. But she is going where few females coaches have gone before.

On Monday, Cain became the new boys soccer coach at South Kitsap.

Think a female coaching a boys soccer team is rare? Steve Haggerty said in his 32 years coaching boys and girls soccer at Olympic, he can't recall another female boys soccer coach in the area.

That's the type of unique position Cain finds herself in.

It's a coaching job Cain — South Kitsap's girls coach since 2009 — initially wasn't interested in. The boys coaching job came open this winter after former coach James Ritchie resigned after two seasons to coach the Kitsap Pumas.

South Kitsap athletic director Ed Santos wouldn't say how many candidates were interviewed for the job — former JV coach Dustyn Brim interviewed last week — but he did say the applicant pool "wasn't adequate." Cain was not among that pool of candidates. Instead, she served on the hiring committee.

Only on Monday morning, after learning that the school wasn't prepared to hire any of the previous candidates, did Cain become interested in the job. She interviewed Monday and was leading the first day of tryouts — with over 50 boys in attendance — later that afternoon.

Cain, a stay-at-home mom to two young children, admitted she was hesitant going into Monday's session.

"I wasn't sure how receptive they would be with me," said Cain, a former assistant women's soccer coach at Seattle Pacific University. "They were really great and really open."

Leading South Kitsap's girls teams to consecutive state tournament berths the last two seasons, Cain realizes coaching boys is going to be different for her. She noted the superior speed of play and different tactics in the boys game.

She hopes to use this preseason to get a better handle on her players and their skill levels.

"It's a challenge," Cain said. "It's like my first year (with the girls)."

Santos, who said he isn't sure what the school would have done had Cain not interviewed, believes she is the right person for the job. He cited her knowledge and understanding of the sport and her ability to relate to kids.

"She will do a great job," he said.

Also

Klahowya athletic director Todd Winters said Tuesday that Dan Ericson is the school's new softball coach. Winters originally filled the position in October, hiring Grace Hughes, a local professional racquetball player. Hughes resigned two months after deciding she had too many scheduling conflicts. Winters said until recently, he thought he might have to step in and coach softball. That was until he convinced Ericson — who was originally slated to coach golf this spring — to take the job. "It'll be fun," said Ericson, who played baseball at Central Washington and is also the Eagles' football coach.